Day 2, Session 3: The role and perspectives of forest communities in the forest reform process Presentation by Erick Cuellar, Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP

1. Community forest management an
alternative for the Conservation of
Biodiversity and Reduction of
Poverty.
May 2009.

2. Conservation Policies
• 1989 creation of CONAP.
• 1990 creation of the MBR (2.1
millon hectares)

3. INITIAL STATUS OF THE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE MBR (1990-95)
Focus on Strict Protection
State of ungovernability
Deforestation and unmanaged
advance of the agricultural
frontier
Illegal extraction of the natural resources
Plundering of archaeological sites

4. STRATEGY
STRATEGY
• Share and delegate
the administration of
the Multiple Use
Zone
• Adjudication of
concessions for the
use and management
of the resource base
• Compatibility of
socio-economic
development with
conservation and
biodiversity goals.

5. ACOFOP
• Founded in 1995
• Its Objective: Promote
Objective
the socio-economic
development and the
improvement of well-
being of communities,
through sustainable
forest management.
• 23 member community
organizations.

6. Role of ACOFOP
Guarantee the collectivity of the communities with concessions
Accompany the community processes of managing the resource base RRNN
Social representation and political incidence

7. Overall • More than 500,000 hectares
most of it FSC certified
Achievements

8. BENEFITS
• More than 14,000
persons benefit
directly from forest
management.
• Employment
generation.
• Development of local
capacities.
• Direct economic
benefits for
households.
• Social benefits to
community

9. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Control of Forest Fires
• Community
investment in
control and
vigilance overall
• Community
investment in
forest fire
vigilance.
• Both natural
resource and
archaeological
sites.
Aeas under
Concession

10. Forest Cover in 2003
Community
Concessions